Science Corp. Acquires Pixium’s PRIMA Retinal Implant

Science Corporation, a firm specializing in brain-computer interface (BCI) tech, has acquired the IP and related assets for Pixium Vision’s PRIMA retinal implant.
 
Pixium’s PRIMA system consists of a miniaturized, wireless subretinal implant paired with a pocket computer and glasses. The technology was originally developed at Stanford University.
 
The company currently has three ongoing clinical studies of PRIMA: two feasibility trials, in France and in the U.S., as well as the PRIMAvera pivotal study in Europe, for patients with severe vision loss due to retinal degeneration caused by the dry atrophic form of age-related macular degeneration. There’s currently no treatment for this, up until now.
 
PRIMA obtained breakthrough status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
 
Science Corp.’s first flagship product in development is the Science Eye. It’s a combination device that uses optogenetic gene therapy targeted at retinal ganglion cells in tandem with an implanted flexible thin-film, ultra-dense micro LED display panel inserted over the retina.
 
The Science Eye is being developed for serious blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa and dry age-related macular degeneration.
 
“The PRIMA retinal implant, developed by Pixium and based on research done at Stanford University, shows great promise,” Science Corp. co-founder and CEO Max Hodak said in a blog post. “The early clinical trial results we’ve seen are impressive. Together with the work being done at Science on the Science Eye, we now have two great opportunities to develop BCI technology for the potential restoration of vision in certain patients with severe vision loss. We are committed to bringing meaningful restoration of vision to patients as quickly as possible.”
 
Hodak continued: “Science is now developing advanced innovative products using two very different modalities. This transaction significantly expands our IP portfolio, and while we were strongly motivated in this acquisition by the potential of the PRIMA implant, we also felt that the patients enrolled in the Pixium clinical trials could not be left hanging. Now, we will be able to provide continuity and a future for the program. We look forward to working with them.”